John 3
1 NOW there was a man of the Pharisees, whose name was Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews:
Now there was a Pharisee named Nicodemus, who was a leading man among his people.
2 this man came to Jesus in the night, and said to him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles which thou dost, unless God be with him.
This man came to Jesus by night, and said to him, ‘Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God; for no one could give such signs as you are giving, unless God were with him.’
3 Jesus answered and said to him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
‘In truth I tell you,’ exclaimed Jesus, ‘unless a person is reborn, they cannot see the kingdom of God.’
4 Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb, and be born?
‘How can a person,’ asked Nicodemus, ‘be born when they are old? Can they be born a second time?’
5 Jesus replied, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
‘In truth I tell you,’ answered Jesus, ‘unless a person owes their birth to water and Spirit, they cannot enter the kingdom of God.
6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
All that owes its birth to human nature is human, and all that owes its birth to the Spirit is spiritual.
7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.
Do not wonder at my telling you that you all need to be reborn.
8 The wind bloweth where it will, and thou hearest the sound of it, but knowest not from whence it cometh, nor whither it goeth: just so is every one who is born of the Spirit.
The wind blows wherever it wants, and you can hear the sound it makes, but you do not know where it comes from, or where it goes; it is the same with everyone who owes his birth to the Spirit.’
9 Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these things be?
‘How can that be?’ asked Nicodemus.
10 Jesus answered and said to him, Art thou a teacher of Israel, and knowest not these things?
‘What! You a teacher of Israel,’ exclaimed Jesus, ‘and yet do not understand this!
11 Verily, verity, I tell thee, That what we know we speak, and what we have seen we affirm; and ye receive not our testimony.
In truth I tell you that we speak of what we know, and state what we have seen; and yet you do not accept our statements.
12 If I have told you of earthly things, and ye believe not, how will you believe, if I tell you of heavenly things?
If, when I tell you earthly things, you do not believe me, how will you believe me when I tell you of heavenly things?
13 Though no man hath ascended into heaven, except he that descended from heaven, that Son of man the I am in heaven.
No one has ascended to heaven, except him who descended from heaven – the Son of Man himself.
14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, in like manner must the Son of man be lifted up:
And, as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so must the Son of Man be lifted up;
so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.’ (aiōnios g166)
16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that every one who believeth in him should not perish, but have life eternal. (aiōnios g166)
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not be lost, but have eternal life. (aiōnios g166)
17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world by him might be saved.
For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but so that the world might be saved through him.
18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is already under condemnation, because he hath not believed on the name of the only begotten Son of God.
The person who believes in him escapes condemnation, while the person who does not believe in him is already condemned, because they have not believed in the only Son of God.
19 Now this is the condemnation, that the light is come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the light, because their deeds were evil.
The ground of their condemnation is this, that though the light has come into the world, people preferred the darkness to the light, because their actions were wicked.
20 For every one whose practices are foul hateth the light, and cometh not to the light, that his actions may not be brought to conviction.
For the person who lives an evil life hates the light, and will not come to it, fearing that their actions will be exposed;
21 But he who practices the truth, cometh to the light, that his actions may be evident, as being done for God.
but the person who lives by the truth comes into the light, so it can be clearly seen that God is in all they do.
22 After these things Jesus and his disciples went into the land of Judea; and there he abode with them, and baptised.
After this, Jesus went with his disciples into the country parts of Judea; and there he stayed with them, and baptized.
23 Now John also was baptising at Enon, near to Salem, for there were many streams of water there: and they came, and were baptised.
John, also, was baptizing at Aenon near Salim, because there were many streams there; and people were constantly coming and being baptized.
24 For as yet John was not cast into prison.
(For John had not yet been imprisoned).
25 Then a dispute arose between the disciples of John and the Jews with regard to purification.
Now a discussion arose between some of John’s disciples and a fellow Jew on the subject of purification;
26 And they came to John, and said to him, Rabbi, he that was with thee beyond Jordan, to whom thou gavest testimony, lo! this man baptiseth, and all men come to him.
and the disciples came to John and said, ‘Rabbi, the man who was with you on the other side of the Jordan, and to whom you have yourself borne testimony – he, also, is baptizing, and everybody is going to him.’
27 John answered and said, A man cannot assume any thing, except it be given him from heaven.
John’s answer was – ‘A person can gain nothing but what is given them from heaven.
28 Ye yourselves bear me witness, that I said, I am not the Messiah, but that I am sent before him.
You are yourselves witnesses that I said “I am not the Christ,” but “I have been sent before him as a messenger.”
29 It is the bridegroom, who possesses the bride: and the friend of the bridegroom, standing by and hearing him, rejoiceth exceedingly at the bridegroom’s voice: this my joy therefore is fulfilled.
It is the groom who has the bride; but the groom’s friend, who stands by and listens to him, is filled with joy when he hears the groom’s voice. This joy I have felt to the full.
30 He must grow great, but I diminutive.
He must become greater, and I less.’
31 He that cometh from above is above all: he whose origin is from earth is of the earth, and speaketh of the earth: he who cometh from heaven is above all.
He who comes from above is above all others; but a child of earth is earthly, and his teaching is earthly, too. He who comes from heaven is above all others.
32 And what he hath seen and heard, that he testifieth; though no man receiveth his testimony.
He states what he has seen and what he heard, and yet no one accepts his statement.
33 He that receiveth his testimony hath avouched that God is true.
They who did accept his statement confirm the fact that God is true.
34 For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for God hath not given the Spirit by measure unto him.
For he whom God sent as his messenger gives us God’s own teaching, for God does not limit the gift of the Spirit.
35 The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into his hand.
The Father loves his Son, and has put everything in his hands.
36 He that believeth on the Son hath life eternal: and he that believeth not on the Son shall not see life: but the wrath of God abideth upon him. (aiōnios g166)
The person who believes in the Son has eternal life, while a person who rejects the Son will not even see that life, but remains under God’s displeasure. (aiōnios g166)
